Click on the hippo to watch a video on Temperance (Watch second half of video)
Summary of the Reform Movement
With the new land in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Tennessee, grain was the answer for what should be farmed. With all this grain being made into whiskey, it led to the average person (age 13 and up) consuming 9.5 gallons of hard liquor, along with 30.3 gallons of hard cider, beer, and wine a year. Many believed that alcohol was a remedy until 1810 when it was discovered to actually be poisonous. With many men just pouring down the drinks, problems arose like financial issues and domestic abuse. This caused the movement to start as early as 1825 with the evangelical Protestants. Eventually other organizations were created like the American Temperance Society. In New England the temperance movement really took off, the area started to become divided between drinkers and prohibitionist. Most believed that drinking was a moral vice leading to poverty and crime, which produced the idea to pledge for abstinence or for temperance, which would be a lesser amount consumed. This reform did have a few issues, but it was the most widespread reform of the antebellum era.
Cause The main cause of the Temperance movement was due to the excessive use of alcohol. Many saw alcohol as the leading reason crime, poverty, problems in the work place workplace, divorce, violence against women, and the neglect of children. During this time, prostitution and drugs were other problems that went along with drinking and many said this lead to moral decay. The Christians also believed that drink either caused moral corruption or it unfavorably effected the economy. The negative impact that that drinking, drugs, and prostitution had on society caused many to start to Temperance movement to put an end to it.
Goal of the movement
Women expressing their thoughts
The overall goal of the movement was to improve the nation’s morality. More specifically by reducing the number of alcoholics and the excessive amount of alcohol that they drank. With that then the family mentality would be come more positive as well as prostitution would secede. The hope was to have many pledges towards abstinence, but the main reformers were happy with just a more controlled amount. This way family abuse would end, along with prostitution.
Tactics and Strategies
There were many tactics and strategies that were used in the temperance movement. Many people tried to educate younger people so they learned the risks of drinking. Mostly women's rights associations and unions helped educate children throughout their schooling with mandatory alcohol classes. State officials and people in government tried to make laws to prohibit alcohol. People spoke in public areas stating their ideas about the consumption of alcohol throughout churches, auditoriums and other public areas. Actually, the majority of the people associated with this movement were people from the Christian religion. Lots of the work that was done was through organizations and groups that formed against alcohol. All the groups mostly encouraged total abstinence from distilled liquor. In conclusion, the tactics and strategies during this movement successfully spread the word of morality and alcoholism.
Success, Along with Failures in the Movement
A poster that expresses the strong views on alcoholics
Temperance organizations were created in a total of eight states. Examples of the organizations that were created were the American Temperance Society and the American Temperance Union. Lecturers traveled all over the country to preach what alcohol was doing to the nation. Most of them thought that abstinence was the best route to follow, but others knew a more realistic plan was to control the amount of alcohol they consumed. One state, Maine, passed a prohibition law in 1851. The party did have its failures though, when reformers wanted the pledge to be abstinence from all intoxicants. During this era of time, temperance was a necessity, with the average drinker drinking almost a pint of alcohol a day, Temperance organizations were a must. The most known of these groups were, the Washingtonians, Sons of Temperance, American Temperance Union. The Washingtonians focused on saving the sober, started as a group of six keeping themselves sober with the help of their group, as people joined they gained over 500,000 followers; they held meetings called "experience meetings," which were people talking about their life when they were drunkards, and how sobriety has made their life better. Sons of Temperance took over the Washingtonians as a main Temperance group for they provided more aid, Working men and women wanted the meetings they attended to display the respectability to which they aspired. More and More Temperance organizations started to argue that Sobriety is only possible when alcohol is prohibited and outlawed. So the Temperance organizations began to fail more and more, the so called Maine laws were unenforceable with the current police force, so they were repealed, and the only states that remained dry were New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. Many states also failed when they tried to change license laws for liquor trafficking and add petitions against liquor sales. These tries were declared unconstitutional or repealed by 1857. The Depression also weakened the reform movement.
Key Figures and People The anti-saloon league was a non-partisan organization that focused only on prohibition. The Woman's Temperance Union which was the oldest voluntary woman's organization. It's famous for its propaganda against alcohol. Mary Hunt who was the national superintendent of schools and colleges. She made these schools and colleges educate the students, preaching that alcohol should be banned. Her actions made it a rule for all of the schools to have a mandatory anti-alcohol education class. Neal S. Dow also known as, "The father of Prohibition" was known for his campaigning ag
Lyman Beecher
ainst alcohol. He was the author of "The Maine Law" which was a statute against the consumption of alcohol. Susan B. Anthony who is noted more on her efforts of women's rights had also helped in the temperance movement by becoming involved in the Sons of Temperance. She was unable to preach about alcoholism since she was a woman. There was even a Prohibition Party that was created to spread the word about prohibition of alcohol. They are the oldest third party in the United States. Lyman Beecher who was a Connecticut minister preached his ideas against liquor throughout churches. Wesley Bailey founded the Knights of Jericho. Marshall Temperance Fraternity was founded in 1845 Orators such as John Gough and John Hawkins toured the country, including theSouth, leecturing on temperance. Teetotalism was created in 1832. TS Arthur wrote Ten Nights In a Barroomand What I saw There in 1854
Key Events In 1826, The American Temperance society was formed In 1833, more than 6 thousand local societies were part of the ATS In the 1860's, many states had appealed their "Maine" laws because they just didn't work. In February, 1826, The American Society for the Promotion of Temperance constitution was signed by sixteen clergy and laymen. They all sent out missionaries to preach total abstinence. By 1834, they had 1 million pledges and was very effective. In 1842, Abraham Lincoln, who was a member of the Illinois General Assembly at the time, gave a speech supporting temperance and encouraging people to take pledges of abstinence. In 1840, the Washingtonian Society was formed. It was a group of reformed drinkers who had stopped their old ways. In 1841, they began holding “experience meetings” which attracted thousands of new people and a successful lecturer was John B. Gough. In 1842, Son of Temperance was formed and Independent Order of Good Templarsin 1852 In 1843, Oregon territory passed a prohibition law By 1850, Massachusetts had transformed itself into a teetotal state In 1851, Maine was the first state to vote itself a teetotal state all at once. In 1851, the first state law on prohibition was enacted in Maine in an effort to stop drinking completely. In 1852, the first women’s temperance society was established by Susan B. Anthony called the Women’s State Temperance Society of New York, because before this, women were not allowed to speak about the movement or at convention obtaining to it.
Bibliography Carlson, Douglas W. "Temperance Movement." Dictionary of American History. Ed. Stanley I. Kutler. Vol. 8. 3rd ed. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2003. 78-81. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. High School. 10 Nov. 2009 http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=s0003.
Claybaugh, Amanda. "Temperance." American History Through Literature 1820-1870. Ed. Janet Gabler-Hover and Robert Sattelmeyer. Vol. 3. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2006. 1152-1158. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. High School. 10 Nov. 2009 http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=s0003.
Shepard, Benjamin, and Liz Highleyman. "Prohibition And Repeal." Encyclopedia of American Social Movements. Ed. Immanuel Ness. Vol. 3. Armonk: Myorn E. Sharpe, 2004. 865-871. Print. 4 vols.
Krout, John A. "Temperance Movement." Dictionary of American History. Ed. Louise Bilebof Ketz. Vol. 7. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1976. 22-23. Print.
Summary of the Reform Movement
With the new land in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Tennessee, grain was the answer for what should be farmed. With all this grain being made into whiskey, it led to the average person (age 13 and up) consuming 9.5 gallons of hard liquor, along with 30.3 gallons of hard cider, beer, and wine a year. Many believed that alcohol was a remedy until 1810 when it was discovered to actually be poisonous. With many men just pouring down the drinks, problems arose like financial issues and domestic abuse. This caused the movement to start as early as 1825 with the evangelical Protestants. Eventually other organizations were created like the American Temperance Society. In New England the temperance movement really took off, the area started to become divided between drinkers and prohibitionist. Most believed that drinking was a moral vice leading to poverty and crime, which produced the idea to pledge for abstinence or for temperance, which would be a lesser amount consumed. This reform did have a few issues, but it was the most widespread reform of the antebellum era.Cause
The main cause of the Temperance movement was due to the excessive use of alcohol. Many saw alcohol as the leading reason crime, poverty, problems in the work place workplace, divorce, violence against women, and the neglect of children. During this time, prostitution and drugs were other problems that went along with drinking and many said this lead to moral decay. The Christians also believed that drink either caused moral corruption or it unfavorably effected the economy. The negative impact that that drinking, drugs, and prostitution had on society caused many to start to Temperance movement to put an end to it.
Goal of the movement
The overall goal of the movement was to improve the nation’s morality. More specifically by reducing the number of alcoholics and the excessive amount of alcohol that they drank. With that then the family mentality would be come more positive as well as prostitution would secede. The hope was to have many pledges towards abstinence, but the main reformers were happy with just a more controlled amount. This way family abuse would end, along with prostitution.
Tactics and Strategies
There were many tactics and strategies that were used in the temperance movement. Many people tried to educate younger people so they learned the risks of drinking. Mostly women's rights associations and unions helped educate children throughout their schooling with mandatory alcohol classes. State officials and people in government tried to make laws to prohibit alcohol. People spoke in public areas stating their ideas about the consumption of alcohol throughout churches, auditoriums and other public areas. Actually, the majority of the people associated with this movement were people from the Christian religion. Lots of the work that was done was through organizations and groups that formed against alcohol. All the groups mostly encouraged total abstinence from distilled liquor. In conclusion, the tactics and strategies during this movement successfully spread the word of morality and alcoholism.Success, Along with Failures in the Movement
Temperance organizations were created in a total of eight states. Examples of the organizations that were created were the American Temperance Society and the American Temperance Union. Lecturers traveled all over the country to preach what alcohol was doing to the nation. Most of them thought that abstinence was the best route to follow, but others knew a more realistic plan was to control the amount of alcohol they consumed. One state, Maine, passed a prohibition law in 1851. The party did have its failures though, when reformers wanted the pledge to be abstinence from all intoxicants.
During this era of time, temperance was a necessity, with the average drinker drinking almost a pint of alcohol a day, Temperance organizations were a must. The most known of these groups were, the Washingtonians, Sons of Temperance, American Temperance Union. The Washingtonians focused on saving the sober, started as a group of six keeping themselves sober with the help of their group, as people joined they gained over 500,000 followers; they held meetings called "experience meetings," which were people talking about their life when they were drunkards, and how sobriety has made their life better. Sons of Temperance took over the Washingtonians as a main Temperance group for they provided more aid, Working men and women wanted the meetings they attended to display the respectability to which they aspired. More and More Temperance organizations started to argue that Sobriety is only possible when alcohol is prohibited and outlawed. So the Temperance organizations began to fail more and more, the so called Maine laws were unenforceable with the current police force, so they were repealed, and the only states that remained dry were New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. Many states also failed when they tried to change license laws for liquor trafficking and add petitions against liquor sales. These tries were declared unconstitutional or repealed by 1857. The Depression also weakened the reform movement.
Key Figures and People
The anti-saloon league was a non-partisan organization that focused only on prohibition.
The Woman's Temperance Union which was the oldest voluntary woman's organization. It's famous for its propaganda against alcohol.
Mary Hunt who was the national superintendent of schools and colleges. She made these schools and colleges educate the students, preaching that alcohol should be banned. Her actions made it a rule for all of the schools to have a mandatory anti-alcohol education class.
Neal S. Dow also known as, "The father of Prohibition" was known for his campaigning ag
Susan B. Anthony who is noted more on her efforts of women's rights had also helped in the temperance movement by becoming involved in the Sons of Temperance. She was unable to preach about alcoholism since she was a woman.
There was even a Prohibition Party that was created to spread the word about prohibition of alcohol. They are the oldest third party in the United States.
Lyman Beecher who was a Connecticut minister preached his ideas against liquor throughout churches.
Wesley Bailey founded the Knights of Jericho.
Marshall Temperance Fraternity was founded in 1845
Orators such as John Gough and John Hawkins toured the country, including theSouth, leecturing on temperance.
Teetotalism was created in 1832.
TS Arthur wrote Ten Nights In a Barroomand What I saw There in 1854
Key Events
In 1826, The American Temperance society was formed
In 1833, more than 6 thousand local societies were part of the ATS
In the 1860's, many states had appealed their "Maine" laws because they just didn't work.
In February, 1826, The American Society for the Promotion of Temperance constitution was signed by sixteen clergy and laymen. They all sent out missionaries to preach total abstinence. By 1834, they had 1 million pledges and was very effective.
In 1842, Abraham Lincoln, who was a member of the Illinois General Assembly at the time, gave a speech supporting temperance and encouraging people to take pledges of abstinence.
In 1840, the Washingtonian Society was formed. It was a group of reformed drinkers who had stopped their old ways. In 1841, they began holding “experience meetings” which attracted thousands of new people and a successful lecturer was John B. Gough.
In 1842, Son of Temperance was formed and Independent Order of Good Templarsin 1852
In 1843, Oregon territory passed a prohibition law
By 1850, Massachusetts had transformed itself into a teetotal state
In 1851, Maine was the first state to vote itself a teetotal state all at once.
In 1851, the first state law on prohibition was enacted in Maine in an effort to stop drinking completely.
In 1852, the first women’s temperance society was established by Susan B. Anthony called the Women’s State Temperance Society of New York, because before this, women were not allowed to speak about the movement or at convention obtaining to it.
Primary Sources
This link brings you to an actual temperance pledge. The pledge was signed by Rufus P. Stebbings on July 29, 1834.
**http://www.teachushistory.org/Temperance/ps-pledge.htm**
This website brings you to an actual speech from Abraham Lincoln. He read it on February 22, 1842, and most found his stance on the topic of temperance surprising.
http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/temperance.htm
Here is a program for a temperance convention in Middletown. The convention was on October 26-27, 1841 and was hosted by the Connecticut Temperance Society.
http://www.lostmuseum.cuny.edu/archives/conventionnewwindow.html
Links
http://www.teachushistory.org/Temperance/forstudents.htm
http://www.lostmuseum.cuny.edu/archives/temperance.htm
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/REtemperance.htm
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/586530/temperance-movement
http://www.librarycompany.org/ArdentSpirits/Temperance-intro.html
Bibliography
Carlson, Douglas W. "Temperance Movement." Dictionary of American History. Ed. Stanley I. Kutler. Vol. 8. 3rd ed. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2003. 78-81. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. High School. 10 Nov. 2009 http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=s0003.
Claybaugh, Amanda. "Temperance." American History Through Literature 1820-1870. Ed. Janet Gabler-Hover and Robert Sattelmeyer. Vol. 3. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2006. 1152-1158. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. High School. 10 Nov. 2009 http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=s0003.
Hanson, David. "Temperance Movement Groups and Leaders in the U.S.." Temperance Movement Groups and Leaders in the U.S.. 1997. Web. 16 Nov 2009. http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/controversies/1124913901.html.
"Temperance Movement." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. Ed. Shirelle Phelps and Jeffrey Lehman. Vol. 9. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 453-455. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. High School. 12 Nov. 2009 http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=s0003
Online Highways. "The Temperance Movement." Travel and History. Web. 17 Nov 2009. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1054.html.
Shepard, Benjamin, and Liz Highleyman. "Prohibition And Repeal." Encyclopedia of
American Social Movements. Ed. Immanuel Ness. Vol. 3. Armonk: Myorn E.
Sharpe, 2004. 865-871. Print. 4 vols.
Krout, John A. "Temperance Movement." Dictionary of American History. Ed. Louise
Bilebof Ketz. Vol. 7. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1976. 22-23.
Print.
"Temperance." Michael Gagnon Homepage. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. <http://mgagnon.myweb.uga.edu/students/Davis.htm>.
"Historical Note on Temperance Reform in the Early 19th Century | Teach US History."Homepage | Teach US History. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. <http://www.teachushistory.org/second-great-awakening-age-reform/articles/historical-note-temperance-reform-early-19th-century>.